Facsimile machine

Abstract

As image data is received by the facsimile machine, it is stored in the form of plural lines. A line which contains black pixels more than a predetermined number is taken as a drawing line (image-carrying line or effective line). All the image data lines are scanned from the top to the bottom to find a top image-carrying line or top effective line and a bottom image-carrying line or bottom effective line and the number of the lines from the top effective line to the bottom effective line is calculated as the number of the effective lines of sending sheet. If the number of the effective lines of the sending sheet exceeds the number of recording lines of a recording sheet, the image data is reduced with a reduction ratio which is determined by the number of the recording lines and the number of the effective lines.

We claim: 
     
       1. A facsimile machine, comprising: means for receiving image data comprising a plurality of lines,   printing means for printing at least one of the plurality of lines on at least one recording sheet,   a buffer memory for storing the image data comprising a plurality of lines,   means for determining whether the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than a predetermined value,   means for activating the printing means to print all of the unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than the predetermined value,   means for determining whether one page has been completed when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is less than the predetermined value,   means for determining whether at least one darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed,   means for deactivating the printing means when no darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed,   means for activating the printing means when at least one darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed.   
     
     
       2. A facsimile machine, comprising: means for receiving image data comprising a plurality of lines, at least one of the plurality of lines comprising at least one darkened pixel,   printing means for printing at least one of the plurality of lines on at least one recording sheet,   a buffer memory for storing the image data comprising a plurality of lines,   means for determining whether the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than a predetermined value,   means for activating the printing means to print all of the unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than the predetermined value,   means for determining whether one page has been completed when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is less than the predetermined value,   means for determining whether at least one darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed,   means for deactivating the printing means when no darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed,   means for activating the printing means when at least one darkened pixel is present in the unprinted lines when the plurality of unprinted lines is less than the predetermined value and one page has been completed.   
     
     
       3. The facsimile machine of claim 1, comprising means for selecting the predetermined value. 
     
     
       4. The facsimile machine of claim 2, comprising means for selecting the predetermined value. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile machine of claim 3, wherein the printing means comprises means for printing blank pixels on the recording sheet for each of the plurality of lines that does not include a darkened pixel when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than the predetermined value. 
     
     
       6. The facsimile machine of claim 4, wherein the printing means comprises means for printing blank pixels on the recording sheet for each of the plurality of lines that does not include a darkened pixel when the plurality of unprinted lines of image data stored in the buffer memory is not less than the predetermined value.